DIY Sisal Rope Ottoman From a Milk Crate!

HOW is July already half over?! This summer is seriously flying by. I think it needs to slow down just a tad. But, you know what the 15th of every month brings, right? A new Home Depot Gift Challenge!

If you’re new around these parts, The Home Depot Gift Challenge is a monthly challenge where a group of fabulous bloggers and myself get together and make something from a chosen item from Home Depot. The person who chooses the item also chooses a person to gift it too (you can check out my previous projects using these other items: copper tee, wooden dowel, pegboard, 2×4 wood, cement).

(We are in no way associated with Home Depot; we just love their stuff!)

For July, manila/sisal rope was chosen, and the gift was to be made for our best friend. I scoured Pinterest for inspiration; but it actually made it harder to think of an idea! Does that ever happen to you? Despite having 50 different ideas in my head, I finally came up with a winner as I was cleaning up one day. In our garage, we have several mismatched plastic milk crates that store some of my paint and craft supplies. As I was putting some paint away, it came to me; a storage ottoman!

I ran to Home Depot and got my supplies. While this project is super easy, I will advise it is not quick. It took me 3 days (3 natpimes, to be exact!) to get the sisal rope wrapped around the milk crate. But I gotta say, I’m totally in love with the end result, and it’s so worth the time!

I started by gluing down one end of the sisal rope to a bottom corner of the crate.

I continued wrapping the twine around the bottom of the crate, gluing every inch or so as I went, and pulling tight and holding to dry.

I used the sides to put glue on so the rope would have something to stick to, since there’s so much open space to the crate.

For each new row of rope, I’d add glue to the rope below it and push down so there’d be no major gaps between the rope.

This is what took so long, and I used a LOT of glue sticks. I probably didn’t need to, but I wanted to make sure there were no gaps and that the rope was really going to stay put! At first I was going to leave the very top of the crate without rope, but decided it looked bare. I didn’t want any of the crate showing, so I ended up going all the way to the top with rope. When the lid is on, you can’t see the crate at all!

After it was all wrapped, it was time to work on the wood top. I ended up using particle board because I only needed a small piece (and it was so much cheaper!), but a piece of 1/2″ thick plywood would also be perfect.

We measured the inside of the crate where the little lip was, and cut out the wood to fit perfectly inside.

I then took the board out, and traced it on the cushion foam.

I carefully cut out my cushion and set it on top of the wood.

I flipped them both over and laid them on top of the fabric. I cut the fabric to fit around the wood and cushion, leaving about 6 inches on each side so I could fold it up around both the cushion and the board, and still be able to staple it down on the back.

This would have been easier if I had an extra hand helping to pull the fabric and hold while I staple, but it worked just fine with 1 person. I started on one edge, and pulled up the fabric over the wood and cushion. Be careful to make sure your cushion stays in place and doesn’t shift around (to help, you could also spray some adhesive on the cushion and press into the wood so they’ll stick together).

While pulling the fabric tight, I stapled along the edge. Unfortunately the staples didn’t go into the particle board very well, so I ended up hammering most of them in afterwards. For the corners, I folded them in like a present and then stapled the extra fabric on top.

In the end, the back of the wood didn’t look super pretty because of the staples and the fabric shifted a little, but it all worked just fine!

I wanted something to help me get the top out easily so we could store whatever we wanted to inside, so I found some thicker matching ribbon and stapled it to the back. That way, I could easily just pull the ribbon “tab” and the top of the ottoman will come right off.

And that was it! While the process was quite easy, it just required a little bit of patience on the sisal rope wrapping. I think I’ll even go as far as adding a little piece of plywood on the bottom of the crate as well and attach some casters so I can move it around easier. It’ll also help to keep smaller things from falling out of the bottom of the crate.

It’s the perfect storage for toys, blankets, books, etc. And, it’s super cute! I love how the sisal rope makes it look much more rustic than having the green milk crate show through.

I’m so happy with it!! What best friend wouldn’t love something they can relax on all the while organizing their stuff, too? 🙂

If you want to see some other fabulous manila/sisal rope projects, check out what my bloggy friends have created by clicking on the pictures below!

Hello Amanda, I have scoured the internet, CG, Ebay, etc looking for a crate that has the inner filing ledges. I have even gone behind grocery stores. Do you have any other idea of where I can buy one of those crates??

Hi! In my post above where I list the materials needed for this project, I actually link to one on Amazon that has the filing ledges! I think I’ve also seen them at Walmart, but it might depend on the store. Hope that helps you find one!! 🙂

Aw thank you Cat!! And thanks for the pin! If you ever have a few extra days you should def. make one. 😉 They really are worth the time! And, are super cute with fabric that matches wherever you’re putting it!

This looks great, Amanda! I made 6 of these for my classroom and they have lasted for two years so far. I just brought them home to put in our basement for my girls, but now you’ve got me thinking. The sisal rope is a great touch, and makes it much more decorative!Jenny @ Refresh Living recently posted…Dream. Create. Inspire. Link. #6

Thank you, Jenny!! I’ve had a few teacher friends who have made these too, and I’ve always wanted to make myself some! I want to make a few more just to put in my daughter’s room, too. 🙂 The sisal rope is definitely the perfect touch, though my little one doesn’t like the way it feels on her legs when she sits. Oh well. 😉

I have one of these crates that is being used for my boy’s superhero dress up clothes. I had actually been thinking of putting some rope around the outside (I always seem to have some around the house) but was not sure if I should weave it into the crate or glue it around it. I adore this look, and you helped make my decision! BTW I adore the fun fabric you chose for the top!Emily, Our house now a home recently posted…Question of the day- Friday

Yay! You should totally do these, too!! I actually started out by weaving it to see how it’d look, but I didn’t like it. The rope I chose was too thick, but if the rope was thinner it might look better. Perfect storage for superhero clothes! Send me pictures if you make some! 🙂

This is great. What a super idea you came up with. I would love to make a few of these for the house and for a few friends. The only problem is I don’t have milk crates & I have no idea where to get them either. Where can you get them? Can you buy them somewhere? I hope you can help me out on where to find them. Thanks for a great tutorial! God bless.

Hi Glenda! You can find Sterilite crates at Walmart, Staples, and also at Amazon (there’s a link to one in my “materials” list). I also recently saw them at Big Lots, too! As long as they have the little “lip” on the inside which is normally used for hanging files, then you’re good! Thanks so much for stopping by, I’m so happy to hear you liked it! I’d love to see a pictures if you decide to make some, too! Happy Sunday. 🙂

Hello cute lady! I’m just stopping by to let you know that we will be featuring your ottoman at our party that starts tonight at 7 pm. Woo Hoo! Thanks for taking the time to share them with us! Lou Lou GirlsLou Lou Girls recently posted…DIY Crown Flower Headband For Girls

LOVE this project! Pinned and will share on my FB page later today as part of Trash to Treasure Tuesday. 🙂 So glad I clicked over from the Inbox of Opportunity group! Have a great day!Kimm at Reinvented recently posted…Trash to Treasure Wall Art With Thrift Store Frames

I realized I never commented on this. Amanda, it’s awesome!! I love how you took something so generic and turned it fabulous. I would never guess just looking at the ottoman that it was made from a crate. Gorgeous!!Amanda recently posted…How to Make a Loose Leaf Tea Jar

You did splendid job gluing rope around crate. Know I’d need help holding it and getting rope tight enough. Definitely think the rope gives it decorator touch then with gorgeous fabric you used, wowsa gal. Think this would make great gift for our daughter for her living room or tv room. She has nice sized living room and the foot stool/ottoman would be perfect. I need to put my feet up when I’m sitting and this would be perfect. She hollers at me when I put feet up on her coffee table.
You really should make one for your own home, why not? Love your pillows on couch, great fabrics. I never seem to get enuf pillow covers, am always making new ones when I get tired of what been using for while. You did fantastic job, using ribbon to pull top off smart idea. Happy week

Thank you, Jane Ellen! It wasn’t easy getting all that rope glued, but I’m so happy with how it turned out. This would definitely make a fabulous gift! It really is the perfect ottoman to put your feet up on, and to store items. Thank you, I got those pillow covers on Amazon. They were so cheap, too! Thanks for stopping by as always! Hope you have a fantastic week! 🙂

Hi, love the crate! I have 6 rectangular plastic crates old!! Unfortunately there is no LIP inside!!! I’ve already finished roping 1 and on to second one! But still trying to figure out how to get top to stay? I used thick foam board on first but didn’t stay I think I am going to have to have it rest on top??? Or ???? Where can I send pics to you so you can c what I mean???

Hi Francesca! Hmm, you might have to cut the wood to rest on top instead of inside, since the lip helps it stay without falling. Or maybe there’s some way you can attach a “hinge” of sorts? You can e-mail me the pictures to dwellinginhappiness@gmail if you need more help! 🙂

So glad you like my idea, Kay! It wasn’t easy trying to make it all look flush, and there is one section of the rope on top that sticks out. I just did my best to push the rope in where it needed to be with the hot glue to help hide too much of that lip. Let me know if you need anymore help! 🙂

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About Me

Welcome! I’m Amanda; wife to a handsome hubby, and mom to two sweet kiddos! If you love DIY décor projects and crafts, encouraging thoughts and ideas, organizational tips, free printables, and occasionally a recipe or two (most likely a chocolate one!), then you’re in the right place! I’m sure we’ll be great friends!
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